Basketball: Irony not lost on Leopards

Sheffield Sharks are one game away from the uni-ball League Trophy final at Birmingham's NEC on 8 March, yet Chris Finch's team would not even have reached the last eight had it not been for their semi-final opponents, Greater London Leopards.

The irony was not lost on Leopards' coach, Billy Mims, after Sheffield routed them 103-85 in the first leg of the semi at Ponds Forge on Wednesday night. Sheffield qualified from the north group for the quarter final draw as the fourth-placed team with the best record. But Mims said: "If we'd lost to Watford in our last group game, they would have got into the last eight instead of Sheffield."

Sheffield are now favourites to face London Towers, who beat Newcastle Eagles 102-84 in their first leg. But Mims has not given up hope for his side's second leg on Thursday. "We've already beaten Sheffield by 14 points in the league. Of course we can do it," he said.